Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

Brian Gibbons played Division I NE Prep high school hockey with Thayer Academy. Gibbons had 36 pts total (17g, 19a) and 32 penalty minutes in 20 games during the 2005-06 season.Gibbons recently participated in the 2006 New England Pro-Am Hockey Pre-Draft Showcase. He led all players with 14 points in 6 games (7g, 7a), with two powerplay goals and two game-winning goals.

2007-08: In his freshman season, Gibbons posted a solid 13 goals and 22 assists in 43 games. He was also instrumental in the Boston College Eagles run to the Final Four championship.

2008-09: In a down year for Boston College, Gibbons still managed a solid 9 goals and 19 assists in 36 games. He also saw a developed a lot more sandpaper to his game, registering 52 penalty minutes.

2009-10: As a junior, Gibbons had a breakout season and was among the top offensive players in the nation, posting 16 goals and 34 points in 42 games. He also managed 78 penalty minutes. He also was once again instrumental in another Frozen Four Championship run for Boston College.

2010-11: In his senior season Gibbons managed 18 goals and 33 assists in 39 games. Upon finishing his season, he signed an entry-level deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2011-12: Gibbons skated in 70 games for Penguins' AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in his first pro season. He scored 11 goals with 19 assists and was plus-four with 26 penalty minutes. After finishing second to Norfolk in the East Division, the Penguins reached the second round of the AHL playoffs. Gibbons saw limited ice time in the playoffs, appearing in 9 of 12 games and finishing minus-three with no points and 8 penalty minutes.

2012-13: Gibbons appeared in 70 games for the Penguins AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in his second pro season. A healthy scratch at times during the NHL lockout, he scored 8 goals and was third on the club with 22 assists; finishing -11 with 34 penalty minutes. Wilkes-Barre Scranton finished third in the AHL's East Division and reached the Eastern Conference Finals against Syracuse. Gibbons played in all 15 playoff games, scoring 3 goals with 5 assists, and was -9 with 22 penalty minutes. He was re-signed by Pittsburgh to a one-year contract as a restricted free agent in July of 2013.

Talent Analysis

Brian Gibbons is an immensely talented forward who at the professional level must overcome a huge obstacle: his small stature. Liberally listed at 5'8, Gibbons possesses good passing and hands to be an offensively dynamic player. He is also a willing combatant down low and is very good at cycling the puck. Like many players his size though, he has a lot of difficulties winning 50/50 battles in the corners, and is often too easily pushed off the puck. He also could stand to upgrade his speed and explosiveness.

Future

Gibbons will continue to carve out a role with the Penguins AHL affiliate. Long-term he could develop into a serviceable middle of the lineup forward, though it is just as possible he remains a career AHL player.

Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Tristan Jarry has been among the top goaltenders in the WHL this season. Through 23 starts, Jarry has a 15-7-0-1 record, a 1.98 goals against average, and a .923 save percentage. (courtesy of Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)

Over the past few years, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shown a proclivity for drafting mobile defensemen early and often out of the Canadian major junior leagues. That philosophy has shifted in the last two years however, and the organization now has focused on replenishing their goaltending and forward ranks.

Photo: Eric Hartzell is one of several promising goaltending prospects in the Pittsburgh Penguins system. Hartzell was signed as a free agent on April 14th, 2013. (courtesy of Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Penguins front office has shown a preference for selecting mobile, puck-moving defensemen early and often in the NHL Draft. The organization believes puck-moving defensemen hold premium value in the NHL, and by having several with very high pedigree, they are in a position of strength.

Photo: Selected in the 2nd round of the 2011 NHL Draft, defenseman Scott Harrington has quickly developed into one of the Penguins most promising defensive prospects. (courtesy of Terry Wilson/OHL)

If the old adage that says success breeds more success is correct, then the future for the Pittsburgh Penguins appears quite bright. The organization has many players who went the distance in their respective post-seasons, including three who competed for a Memorial Cup, two who played in the NCAA Frozen Four, and roughly a dozen more currently competing in the NHL and AHL playoffs.

Photo: Defenseman Joe Morrow is one of eight Penguins prospects playing in their first year of professional hockey. Morrow was selected 23rd overall by the Penguins in the 2011 NHL Draft. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Like many teams in the AHL, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are beneficiaries of the ongoing NHL lockout, with several players who would normally be competing for a job in the NHL instead playing in the minors. Despite this flux of NHL caliber talent, the team has struggled all season, particularly on offense, where they rank among the bottom in the league.

Photo: Winger Ben Hanowski is just one of several talented forward prospects the Penguins have at the NCAA level. (Brace Hemmelgarn/Icon SMI)

Over the past four seasons the Pittsburgh Penguins organization has made a concerted effort to draft quality defensemen and now boasts one of the deepest groups of defensive prospects in the NHL. Their forward depth, while not as impressive as the defense, has also come a long way and now has quality prospects at every position.